Line stopping and valve inserting apparatus and method



T. A. LARRY Jan. 4, 1966 LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. 7, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet .1

INVENTOR.

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T. A. LARRY Jan. 4, 1966 LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 7, 1957 INVENTOR 1162121111 ALWQ, m fla/JW @aaww ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 4, 1966 T. A. LARRY 3,227,011

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ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 T. A. LARRY 3,227,0111

LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. 7, 1957 1,0 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR 4' .Lparrg BY ZW 0 0 7 ATTQKNEYS.

T. A. LARRY Jan. 4, 1966 LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Aug. '7, 1957 w m V m hyA.L arrg, m,

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ATTORNEYS.

T. A. LARRY Jan. 4, 1966 1,0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Aug. 7. 1957 0 m Q. M4 w #m 71m m 02 0 0 W A. .A 061 2 a s MIIJLU w & Maw mm 8 a W fl a E n Q 0 4 a w m Q /m Jan. 4, 1966 T. A. LARRY 3,227,011

LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. '7, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 81 H Z'imofizyA.Lar7:y

/ BY ZMZW Q W ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 4, 1966 T. A. LARRY 3,227,011

LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. '7, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. 20.

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Jan. 4, 1966 'r. A. LARRY 3,227,011

LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. '7, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 23.

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United States Patent O 3,227,011 LINE STOPPING AND VALVE INSERTING APPARATUS AND METHGD Timothy Allan Larry, San Clemente, Califi, assignor to Mueller (10., Decatur, III., a corporation of Illinois Original application Aug. 7, 1957, Ser. No. 676,902, now

Patent No. 3,170,226, dated Feb. 23, 1965. Divided and this application Aug. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 389,438

3 Claims. (CI. 7739) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for performing operations on a pipe line, while the latter is in service, to either stop off flow therethrough or insert a permanent valve therein.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 676,902, filed August 7, 1957, now Patent No. 3,170,226.

Line stopping apparatus and methods are well-known in the art, but in the past usually have involved cutting out a transverse circular opening in the line, inserting an expansible stopper into such opening and expanding the stopper against the side edges of the opening, and within the line, to block flow therethrough. Such line-stopping apparatus and method, however, have not proved to be entirely satisfactory for larger size lines.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for stopping off flow through a pipe line without the escape of line fluid to the atmosphere.

An important feature of the invention is that of cutting out a section of the line within the fitting to provide opposed flat line ends. Although prior apparatus is known for effecting such a cutting operation, such apparatus has been either impractical, ineffective, very expensive, or difficult to operate.

Hence, it is a further object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for cutting out a section of a line within a fitting to provide opposed flat line ends.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying this invention installed on a pipe line for cutting out a section thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the cutting tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in FIG. 4, but with a cover plate removed.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to FIG.4 of another form of cutting tool embodying this invention.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the tool shown in FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view of the inner side of one of the arm portions of the tool shown in FIG. 7.

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying this invention installed on a line for stopping off flow therethrough.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away to show interior details, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, of parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

"ice

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the parts shown in FIG. 13.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, and with portions broken away to show details, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on line Iii-16 of FIG. 15.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1'7-17 of FIG. 18.

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 18-18 of FIG. 15.

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1919 of FIG. 18.

FIGURE 20 is a view corresponding to FIG. 11 illustrating the use of part of the apparatus shown in the latter figure for installing a closure on a stopper fitting.

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 20.

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 20.

FIGURE 23 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially on line 2323 of FIG. 22.

The stopper or valve-inserting fitting Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown apparatus embodying this invention for cutting into a pipe line 46, without the escape of fluid therefrom to the atmosphere, to enable the subsequent stopping off of ilow through the line or the insertion of a valve thereinto. Such apparatus includes a stopper or valve-inserting fitting 40, formed in two parts 42 and 44 having two pairs of aligned semi-circular cutouts in their meeting edges. Hence, the two parts 42 and 44 can be disposed on opposite sides of the line 4-6 and welded thereto, and to each other, in a conventional manner as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to form an enclosure about the line. For the purposes of this invention, the fitting 40 is of a substantially box-like configuration and is elongated in two dimensions laterally of the line 46, as best shown in FIGURE 1, so that the line passes normally through two opposite walls of the fitting in spaced relation to the remaining fitting walls. In order to more elfectively resist interior pressures, the walls of the fitting preferably are slightly interiorly concave, as shown in the drawings. The part 44 of the fitting 40 is completely closed, while the part 42 of the fitting is provided with a generally rectangular access opening 43 that is elongated laterally of the line 46 and has slightly concave side edges 50 and curved corners, as shown in FIGURE 3.

T he line cutting apparatus The fitting 2-h has a peripheral flange 52 surrounding the access opening 48 for sealingly attaching thereto, as by bolts 54 and a gasket 55, a correspondingly flanged end of a conventional pass-through gate valve 56. The opening through the valve is slightly larger than the fitting opening 48 to expose a portion of the gasket 55 on the rim 58 of the latter, for reasons later explained. Sealingly attached to the other, and flanged, end of the gate valve 56, as by bolts 60, is the open mouth of a bell 62 having a lip 64 (figured) that depends a slight distance into the corresponding end of the valve. As stated heretofore, the valve 56 and bell 62 form a pressure chamber. For reasons later explained, the interior cross-sectional configuration of the lip 64 is identical to that of the fitting opening 48. The top of the bell 62 has a central opening 66 within which projects the forward end of an enclosed pressure-tight drilling machine 68, which preferably is generally of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,956,129, and which is sealingly attached to the top of the bell, as

a by bolts 76 extending through corresponding flanges on the bell and on the forward end of the machine. For the disclosure here, it is sufiicient to point out that the drilling machine 68 is provided with an automatic feed wherein the boring bar 72 of the machine is both rotated and advanced at a predetermined feed rate for cutting, and also with a manual feed wherein the bar 72 is selectively advanced or retracted at a rapid feed rate without rotation.

Secured to the end of the boring bar 72 is a cutting tool 74 of a size to be retractable within the bell 62, or at least above the gate 76 of the valve 56, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. The tool 74 is adapted to be advanced, by the bar 72, through the valve 56, into the fitting 4t and against the line 46, and also to be driven by the bar to cut out a section of the line within the fitting to form opposed parallel flat line ends 7% and 80.

The cutting tools One form of a tool for performing the cutting operation is illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6. This tool 74 includes an elongated frame 82 that has a transverse base portion 84 and substantially parallel side arm portions 86 extending forwardly from the base portion. In transverse section the frame is generally rectangular having bevelled corners 88, as best shown in FIGURE 6, and of a size to fit relatively snugly within the opening defined by the lip 64 of the bell 62 and also within the access opening 48 in the stopper fitting 4%, as best shown in FIGURE 3. It will be seen from the latter figure that the corners of the frame 82 engage with the corner portions of the lip opening in the bell 62 or the fitting opening 48 so that the frame 82 is both guided and restrained against rotation during its advancing and retracting movements by the boring bar 72, as later described. In this connection, the frame 82 is long enough so that as it moves between fully advanced or retracted positions, it will be engaged within either the lip opening in the bell 62 or the fitting opening 48, or both. Preferably the outer edges of the forward or lower ends of the arm portions '86 are bevelled, as at 90, to facilitate their entrance into the fitting opening.

Mounted in a central opening the frame base portion 84, by an anti-friction bearing 92, is a driving shaft 94 having a bevel gear 96 keyed on the inner end thereof and engaged between the bearing and a shoulder 8 on the shaft. A lock nut 161. on the other or outer side of the anti-friction bearing 92 secures the shaft 94 against axial movement relative to the bearing, while the latter seats against an outwardly-facing shoulder 162 in the frame opening and is retained therein by an apertured cover 1&4 that is secured, as by screws 1126, to the base portion 84 and may be provided with an oil seal 168 engaging the periphery of the shaft outwardly of the lock nut.

At its outer end the shaft 94 is reduced and has a splined fit within a short sleeve 116 having circumferentially spaced notches 112 in the upper end thereof for driven reception of driving jaws 114 on the end of the boring bar 72. A somewhat longer coupling sleeve 116 telescopes over the sleeve 11!} and over the end of the boring bar 72. A bolt 118 passing through aligned diametric apertures in the sleeves 116 and 116 and the shaft 94 secures both of the former to the latter, while a bolt 12.0 (FIGURES 1 and 2) passing through aligned diametric apertures in the sleeve 116 and the end of the boring bar 72 secures the entire tool 74 to the latter.

The side arm portions 86 of the frame 32 are reenforced, intermediate their lengths, by a transverse web 122 that is provided at its forward or lower end with a stiffening flange 124 and at its rearward or upper end with a tubular reenforcing portion 126. The inner end of the driving shaft 94 is steadied by a reduced shaft extension 128 that is journalled, by an anti-friction bearing 130, in a socket in one side of the tubular portion 126.

Both the web 122 and tubular portion 126 have a cutout portion 132 adjacent one of the arms 86. A shaft 134 extends between and is journalled in bushed bearing apertures in the arms 86, and in the tubular portion 126. Fixed on the shaft 134, by a pin 136, within the cutout portion, is a bevelled pinion gear 138 in meshing engagement with the bevelled gear 96. The outer side of each arm 86 is provided with an extended recess closed by a cover plate 142 and into which project the opposite ends of the shaft 134. Gears 144 are keyed on the opposite ends of the shaft 134 and secured thereto by nuts 146. These gears 144 mesh with idler gears 14% located in the recesses 144 and journalled on screws attached to the arm portions 86.

At the forward end of the frame 82 and extending between the arm portions 86 thereof is a milling cutter 152 that may comprise a plurality of individual cutting discs stacked and secured, as by a key 154, on an arbor 156 having reduced threaded end portions 153. Secured on the end portions lid of the arbor 156, as by lock nuts 161), are tubular gears 162 that mesh with the idler gears 148 and have inwardly extending sleeve portions 164 that telescope over the ends of the arbor 156 and engage the key 154. The sleeve portions 164 of the gears 162 are journalled in the side arm portions 86 of the frame 82 by bushings 166. Thus, rotation of the shaft 94 by the boring bar 72 will serve to rotate the milling cutter 152, and in this connection it will be noted that the arm portions 86 extend forwardly beyond the cutter. Preferably, a curved chip shield 168 overlies the cutter 152 and is secured in place by screws 170 extending through the flange 124 and into tapped bosses on the shield.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, after the fitting 40, valve 65, bell 62, drilling machine 68, and cutting tool 74- have been assembled, in operation of the apparatus the driiling machine 68 is operated by hand to advance the boring bar 72, without rotation thereof, until the cutting tool 74 guidedly projects within the access opening 48 of the fitting 46 and the cutter 152 contacts the line 46. Thereafter, power drive of the drilling machine 68 in automatic feed serves to rotate the cutter 152, because the frame 62 is restrained against rotation by its engagement with the sides of the opening 48, and advance it against the line 46, to thereby mill away a section of the latter and provide the flat opposed parallel line ends 78 and 86. It will be seen that operation of the milling cutter 152 against the line serves to form only small chips, a majority of which will be deposited in the bottom of the fitting 4th In any event, however, the chips will be so small that they will have no detrimental effect in the operation of the pipe line 46 even if carried away from the site of the cutting operation by flow in the line.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 to 10, there is shown another form of a cutting tool for cutting out a section of the line 46 within the fitting 45b to form opposed parallel fiat line ends. The tool 172 includes an elongated frame 174 that has a transverse base portion 176 and substantially parallel side arm portions 178 extending forwardly from the base portion and spaced apart a distance sufficient to straddle the line 46. As is the case with the tool 74 illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6, the frame 174 is generally rectangular, with bevelled side corners 180 in cross sec tion and of a size to fit relatively snugly within the opening defined by the lip 64 of the bell 62 and also Within the access opening 48 in the stopper fitting 40. Consequently, the frame 17 in moving between the bell 62 and the stopper fitting 4% is both guided and restrained against rotation. Preferably, the outer edges of the forward ends of the arm portions 170 are bevelled, as at 132, to facilitate insertion of the frame 174 into the fitting opening 48.

The frame base portion 176 is provided with a central opening that is counterbored to form a shoulder 184 against which is seated the outer raceway of an anti-friction bearing 186 that is held in place by an annular retaining ring 188 secured to the base portion by screws 190.

The inner raceway of the bearing 1% is seated against a shoulder 192 on a stub driving shaft 194 which is secured to the raceway by a lock nut 196 threaded onto the shaft. The outer end of the shaft 194 is socketed and provided with notches 198 in its rim for driven engagement by the jaws 11-4 of the boring bar 72 of the drilling machine 68.

A coupling sleeve 200 telescoped over the end of the bar 72 and the end of the driving shaft 194 is secured to both, by bolts 118 and 120. in the same manner as the tool 74, in order to attach the tool 172 to the end of the boring bar.

Keyed onto the reduced inner end of the shaft 194 is a planetary gear carrier 292 of a differential reduction gear assembly. The carrier 202 has a plurality of planetary gears 204 that mesh with a ring gear 266 rigidly secured, as by screws 208, to the upper or rearward side of a traverse web 210 integrally connecting the two arm por tions 178 of the frame 174 in spaced relation to the base portion 176 of the latter. Preferably, an apertured generally dome-shaped cover 212 encloses the carrier 262, the gears 204 and the ring gear 2%, and is secured to the latter by the screws 2&8. The cover may be provided with an oil seal 214 surrounding the shaft 194 above the carrier 232. ,A generally tubular housing 216, that is formed in two longitudinal segments secured together by screws 21S and dowels 220 (FIGURE 8), is provided with a circumferential flange 222 at one end that is secured to the lower or forward side of the web 210 by screws 224. The housing 216 is aligned with the shaft 194 and extends forwardly between the two arm portions 178 of the frame 174. The rearward or upper end of the housing 216 is counterbored to provide a shoulder 226 against which seats the outer raceway of an anti-friction bearing 22% that is retained in place by engagement against a forwardly extending annular flange 23f) surrounding a central aperture in the web 210 of the frame 174. A shaft 232 extends through the inner raceway ofthe bearing 228 and has a reduced outer or upper end that is journalled in a socket in the inner end of the driving shaft 194 by an anti-friction bearing 234. Keyed onto the shaft 232 is a sun gear 236 meshing with the planetary gears 204 and having an extended hub portion 238 engaged at one end with the inner raceway of the bearing 228 and at the other end by a nut 249 threaded onto the shaft 232. The lower or forward end of the shaft 232 is journalled in an anti-friction bearing 242 and has an integral bevel gear 244 engaged against the forward end of the inner raceway of the bearing 242. A tubular spacer element 246 maintains the two bearings 223 and 242 in properly spaced relation.

A shaft 248 extends transversely of the housing 216 and is journalled in the side walls thereof by bushings 250. The axis of the shaft 248 is parallel to that of the line 46 to be cut when the tool 172 is in use. The shaft 258 also has an integral bevel gear 252 meshing with the gear 244 and bearing against the inner end of one of the bushings 250, and also an integral flange 2554 hearing against the inner end of the other bushing 25%. Parallel circular saws 25d, of a diameter slightly greater than that of the pipe line to be cut, are fixed to the projecting opposite ends of the shaft 248 by keys 25S and flanged sleeves or thimbles 26% that are secured to the ends of 'the shaft by coaxial screws 262. The inner sides of the arm portions 173 of the frame 174 are provided with arcuate recesses 264 to accommodate the saws 2%.

It will be seen that the bushings 254% and the ends of the shaft 248 project outwardly beyond the peripheral outline of the housing 216, and in order to permit passage of the projecting shaft ends and bushing ends through the line, as later explained, the inner sides of the saws 255 are provided with supplementary annular saws 266 that are secured to the saws 256 by countersunk screws 268. The

housing 216 is provided with annular cut-out portions 276 for accommodating the supplementary saws 266.

The lower or forward end of the housing 216 is counterbored to provide a shoulder 272 against which seats the outer raceway of an anti-friction bearing 274 that carries a stub shaft 276 having a bevel gear 2'78 on the inner end thereof meshing with the bevel gear 252. Another anti-friction bearing 280 is spaced from the bearing 274 by two tubular spacing elements 232 and 284 and is retained in place by an inwardly extending annular flange 286 on a disc-like cover 288 that is secured to the lower or forward end of the housing 215 by screws 290. The shaft 276 is maintained in place in the bearings 274 and 289 by the engagement between the inner raceway of the bearing 274 and the gear 278 and by the engagement between the inner raceway of the bearing 280 and a lock nut 292 threaded onto the shaft 276. The shaft 276 projects forwardly through a central aperture in the cover 288 and preferably is provided with an oil seal 294. The projecting forward end of the shaft 276 is provided with a socket for the reception of the shank 296 of a pilot drill 2% having coupon-retaining means, e.g., threads 3% thereon. Secured on the shaft 276, by a transverse bolt 3&2 which also secures the shank 2% of the drill 293 in the socket, is a shell cutter hub 304 carrying a shell cutter 306 of a diameter slightly greater than that of the tubular housing 216.

In operation of the tool 172 it will be seen that after it has been advanced from the bell 62 through the valve 56 and into the fitting 40 against the line 46, power drive of the boring bar 72 serves to drive the pilot drill 298 that is immediately followed by the shell cutter 305 to cut a circular opening in one side of the line 46 to permit passage of the tubular housing 216 thereinto. The line 46 next will be engaged by the circular saws 256 which will make parallel transverse cuts in the line. As the boring bar 72 continues to be advanced, the line 46 will be engaged and cut by the supplementary saw 266 so that the ends of the bushings 250 and the shaft 248, which constitute hubs for the saws 256, can pass into the line and thereby permit the saws 256 to cut completely through the line. Meanwhile, the shell cutter 306 cuts another circular opening through the opposite side of the line so that the tubular housing 216 can pass completely therethrough and permit the saws 256 to cut completely through the line.

The annular discs or coupons 3&8 cut from the line 46 by the shell cutter 3% and the pilot drill 298 are retained on the later by the threads Silt), while the longitudinallydivided section 310 cut from the line by the saws 256 is retained on the tool 172 for withdrawal therewith by spring-pressed detents mounted on the arm portions 178 of the frame 174. Each detent comprises an arm 312 having the inner end thereof disposed in a recess 314 of the corresponding arm portion 17 8 and pivotally connected to the latter by a transverse pin 316. A coil compression spring 318 interposed between the arm portion 173 of the frame and the arm 312 constantly urges the outer end of the latter outwardly against the line 46, the extent of such outward movement being limited by a stop 320 on the inner end of the arm engageable against the bottom of the recess 314. The outer end of the arm 312 is somewhat rounded and provided with teeth 322 that are engageable with the line 46 and inclined in a direction to restrain the cut-out section 310 of the line against movement outwardly of the tubular housing 216, Preferably, each detent also includes an untoothed pivotally mounted and springpressed arm 324 that is inclined oppositely from the arm 1312 to engage against a rearwardly spaced portion of the me. i

It will be seen that a cutting operation performed with the tool 172 creates only a small quantity of chips formed by the drill 293 and shell cutter 306 and relatively fine dust formed by the saws 256 and 266.

Afterthe cutting operation has been completed, the drilling machine 68 is operated by hand to retract the boring bar 72 and the cutting tool 74 or 172 within the bell 62, at which time the gate valve 55 is closed, and

I? the bell, together with the cutting tool and drilling machine, is removed from the gate valve in preparation for the attachment of apparatus for stopping off flow through the line 46 or inserting a valve therein.

The line stopping apparatus The stopping apparatus, shown in FIGURES 11 to 19, includes a stopper bell 326, similar to the bell 62, and having a peripheral flange 323 about its mouth for bolted connection to the gate valve 56, the bell and valve again forming a pressure chamber. Threaded into a central aperture in the top of the bell 326, and provided with an O-ring seal 330, is a tubular guide bushing or sleeve 332. Reciprocable through the sleeve is a stopper inserting and operating tube 334. A seal between the tube 334 and the bushing 332 may be effected by an O-ring 336 (FIG- URE 13) disposed in a circumferential groove in the bushing. The projecting outer end of the tube 334 is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 338 and the extremity of the reduced end is received, and fixedly secured by clamping screw 340, within a partially-split central opening 342 in a transversely extending guide bar 344. The opposite ends of the bar 344 are provided with guide openings slidably receiving a pair of guide rods 346 that extend parallel to the tube 334 and have their lower ends received in split clamping sockets 348 in the top of the bell 326 and secured therein by clamping screws 354). The outer ends of the bar 344 may be provided with operating handles 352 for sliding the bar along the rods 346 to reciprocate the tube 334 while maintaining the latter against rotation. Preferably, the outer ends of the rods 346 are connected together by a transverse tie bar 354 having split clamping openings to receive the rods which are secured in place by clamping screws 356. The tie bar 354 may be provided with a central lifting eye bolt 358.

The bushing 332 is provided with an outer extension having exterior feed threads 360 egaged by a handled feed nut 362. Pivotally connected to the nut 362 are the arms of a yoke 364 having a notch in its base portion adapted to straddle the tube 334. The base portion of the yoke 364 is adapted to engage over a thrust washer 366 on the tube 334 and having an anti-friction bearing 368 interposed between the washer 366 and another thrust washer 37th seated against the shoulder 338 on the tube. It will be seen that when the yoke 364 is engaged with the thrust washer 366, and secured about the tube by a cotter pin 3'72, rotation of the nut 362 in one direction will serve to force the tube 334 inwardly of the bell 326 with a force greater than that which can be developed by a manual force exerted on the handles 352 of the guide bar 344. Preferably, a thrust collar 374 is interposed between the guide bar 344 and the thrust washer 366 so that an inward force on the bar is exerted, through the washers 366 and 370 and bearing 368, against the shoulder 338 on the tube 334. Additionally, an adjustable clamping collar 376 is mounted on the tube 334 and bears against the upper end of the bushing 332 so that the tube can be supported in any position of vertical adjustment relative to the bell 326.

The inner end of the tube 334 is provided with a key notch 378 in its rim and with a peripheral flange 380 for engagement by a coupling nut 382. Extending through the tube 334, and sealed thereto by an O-ring 384 disposed in a circumferential groove within the tube, is a valve operating rod 336 having a threaded inner end 338 provided with an axially extending transverse flange or key 3%. The outer end of the rod 386 is provided with threads 392 of considerable axial extent, and engaged with the threads, outwardly of the guide bar 344, is a nut 394. Guide lugs 396, on opposite sides of the nut 394, are received in elongated guide slots 3% in upstanding guide plates 400 secured on opposite sides of the guide bar 344- by screws 402. Secured by a nut 404 on a reduced extension on the outer end of the rod 386 is a hand wheel 406 for rotating the rod. From the foregoing construction it will be seen that rotation of the hand wheel 406,

8 with the guide lugs 3% engaged with one or the other ends of the slots 3%, will serve to move the rod 386 axially relative to the tube 334, while the latter has a limited range of free reciprocatory movement independently of its rotation by the hand wheel.

The line stopper A stopper assembly 498 embodying this invention is est illustrated in FIGURES 15 to 19, and includes a generally U-shaped frame 410 having a central aperture 412 in its base 414 for slidably receiving the lower end of the valve operating rod 386. The frame 410 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the tube 334 by engagement of the coupling nut 382 with an exteriorly threaded boss 416 surrounding the aperture 412. An upstanding lug or key 418 on the boss 416 fits within the notch 378 in the end of the tube 334 in order to maintain the frame 4T0, when secured to the tube, in a position extending transversely of the pipe line 46.

Secured, as by screws 420, to the base 414 of the frame, and extending in inwardly spaced substantially parallel relation to the arm portions 422 of the frame, are arms 424 which provide a substantially bifurcated construction for the arm portions of the frame. Secured between the outer ends of each arm 422 portion and its corresponding arm 424, as by dowels 426 and screws 428 (FIGURE 16), is a cam element 430 that is of substantially diamondshaped configuration in cross section. Disposed on opposite sides of the frame 410 are two stopper plates 432 and 434 having, on their opposed inner sides, two sets of overlapping wing members, one 436 on one plate projecting between two 438 on the other, which project between each arm portion 422 and arm 424. The wing members 436 and 438 of each set are provided with oppositively inclined cam slots 440 and 442, respectively, within which is received the corresponding cam element 430, as best shown in FIGURE 15. The construction is such that when relative linear movement between the plates 432 and 434 and the frame 410 takes place in directions extending parallel to the tube 334, the plates are forced apart or drawn toward each other by the interengagement of the inclined surfaces of the camming elements 433 with the corresponding surfaces of the cam slots 440 and 442 in the wing members 436 and 43%, respectively. Thus, when the plates 432 and 434 move toward the base 414 of the frame 10, the plates are forced apart, and when moved away from the base are forced together. The plates 432 and 434 are constantly urged toward each other by coil compression springs 444, one at each corner of the plates that are engaged between an inwardly extending flange at the outer end of a hollow boss 446 on the plate 432 and the head of a screw 448 which extends through such boss into threaded engagement with the plate 434, as shown in FIGURE 15.

On the outer face of each plate 4-32 and 434, at that edge thereof adjacent the base 414 of the frame 410, are

arcuate abutment or stop members 455 in position to engage the sides of the line ends 78 and 80. In the normal contracted condition of the stopper assembly 408, i.e., when the plates 432 and 434 are moved toward each other to their smallest extent of separation, the thickness of the stopper assembly, i.e., the distance between the outer faces of the two stopper plates, is less than the separation between the two line ends '78 and 80. In this contracted condition, however, the stop members 450 project beyond the stopper plates a distance sufficient to engage with the sides of the line ends 78 and 80 as the stopper assembly is moved linearly between such line ends.

The stopper plate 432 is adapted to engage against the upstream line end 78 and has a relatively large flow opening 452 therethrough, while the stopper plate 434 is adapted to engage the downstream line end and has a relatively small flow opening 454 therethrough provided at its inner end with a valve seat 456 engageable by a valve member 458, as best shown in FIGURE 17. The

9 outer face of the plate 434 has an annular valve washer insert 460 that is retained in place by a retaining ring 462 secured to the plate by screws 464. The washer insert 460 is adapted to engage the downstream line end 80 to effect a tight seal thereagainst.

The valve member 458 has a pair of laterally extending guide lugs 466 which ride in cam grooves or slots 468 formed in plates 470 secured to the inner sides of the inner wing members 438, as by dowels 472 and screws 474. At least the lower ends of the grooves 468 are inclined, as shown in FIGURE 17, so that, as the valve member 458 is moved toward the forward or lower edge of the stopper plate 434, the valve member is forced normally against the valve seat 456, and as the valve member is moved toward the rearward or upper edge of the plate, the valve member is moved normally off of the valve seat. The sealing face of the valve member 458 preferably is provided with an annular valve washer insert 476 retained in place by a retaining disc 478 that is fastened to the valve member by screws 480.

Projecting from the rear side of the valve member 458 is an integral bracket element 482 provided with an aperture 484 therethrough that is in vertical alignment with the frame aperture 412 but is elongated in a direction extending normal to the valve seat 456. A valve operating stub rod 486 extends through the aperture 484 and is retained against axial but for rotary movement therein by collars 488 that are pinned to the rod and bear against the opposite ends of the bracket element 482. That end of the rod 486 adjacent the base 414 of the frame 410 is provided with an enlarged head 490 having a transverse kerf 492 therein for engagement by the key 390 on the end of the valve operating rod 386, while the stub rod 486 is secured to the rod 386 against axial movement by a coupling nut 494 threaded onto the end of the rod 386 and engaged with the enlarged head 490.

After the cut has been effected in the line, as described above, and the bell 62 has been replaced with the stopper bell 326 with the stopper assembly 408 secured to the stopper inserting tube 334, and the latter held up by the clamping collar 376 to position the assembly within the bell, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 11, the gate valve 56 is opened, the collar 376 loosened, and the guide bar 344 is pushed manually to move the stopper assembly from the bell 326 through the gate valve 56 into the fitting 40 and between the line ends 78 and 80 until the stop members 450 on the stopper plates 432 and 434 cugage the sides of the line ends. Continued inward movement of the stopper tube 334, by the handles 352 on the guide bar 344, serves to expand the stopper assembly 408, i.e., force the stopper plates 432 and 434 apart by the interaction of the cams 430 and the cam slots 440 and 442, oppositely against the line ends 78 and 80. At this time the yoke 364 is engaged over the thrust washer 366, and the feed nut 362 rotated to impart a greater inserting force to the tube 334 and, consequently, a greater seating force of the plates 432 and 434 against the line ends78 and 80. Additionally, it will be seen that the yoke 364 firmly retains the stopper plates in engagement against the line ends.

During the expansion of the stopper assembly 408, it will be seen that the linear lost motion connection, i.e., slots 398 and nut lugs 396, between the valve-operating rod 386 and the stopper inserting tube 334, permits relative linear movement between the stopper frame 410 and the stopper plates 432 and 434 without any interference by the rod 386. Similarly, it will be seen that the plate 434, together with the valve member 458, can move laterally of the rod 386 because of the elongated slot connection 484 between the stub rod 486 and the valve member.

After the stopper plates have become seated against the line ends, as before described, the valve operating hand wheel 406 is rotated in a direction to move the rod 386 inwardly and seat the valve member 458 firmly against the seat 456, to thus shut off flow into the down it) stream side of the line 46 while permitting communication between the upstream side of the line, i.e., the end 78, and the interior of the fitting 40 and, consequently, the interior of the stopper bell 326. As is well-known in the art, a bypass line (not shown) may be connected to the stopper bell 326, on removal of a plug 496 therein.

When the miller type of cutting tool 74 is employed to cut out a section of the line 46 within the fitting 46, the tool has a tendency to form feathers on opposite sides of the line in the direction of rotary movement of the cutter 152. In other words, when the milling cutter 152 is rotated in the direction shown in FIGURE 2, very thin elongated burrs or feathers depend from the upper and lower sides of the downstream line end 89 and extend upwardly on the upstream line end 78. The feathers on the latter have no detrimental effect, but those on the downstream line end 30 might damage the stopper plate washer 460 or otherwise impair its seal with the downstream line end. In order to remove the feathers from the downstream line end, the plate 434 preferably is provided with shear plates that will coopcrate with the edges of the line end 80, as the stopper plate is forced thereagainst, to shear off the feathers. The shear plate for the upper side of the line end may be formed by an integral enlarged portion 493 of the washer retaining ring 462 that projects a slight distance into the line end 80 and fits snugly therein when the plate 434 engages the line end, while the shear plate for the lower side of the line end 80 may be formed by a separate arcuate strip 500 secured to the plate 434 by screws 502 in position to snugly engage the lower side of the line end.

On completion of any operations to be accomplished on the line 46 while the flow therein is shut off by the stopper assembly 408, the line is unstopped by first rotating the hand wheel 446 in a direction to move the valve member 458 off of its seat 456 to thus permit flow to take place through the port 454 in the plate 434 and equalize the pressures existing on opposite sides of the latter. The yoke 364 is then disengaged from the thrust washer 366 on the tube 334 so that the latter can be pulled outwardly by the handles 352 on the guide bar 344 to thus collapse the stopper assembly 408, both by the action of the springs 444 and the reverse camming or wedging action between the cams 430 and the cam slots 440 and 442. In this connection it will be seen that the plate 434 can easily be unseated from the downstream line end 80 because there is no pressure differential across such plate that tends to force it tightly against such end. Absent the pressure-equalizing control eifected by the valve member 458, a large pressure differential across the plate 434 during a stopping operation would render it extremely difiicult to unseat the stopper plate and collapse the stopper assembly 468 for withdrawal of the latter from between the opposed. line ends 78 and 80. Even if such could be accomplished, the stopper plate 434 literally would be dragged across the line end 8%) with resulting great damage to the washer 460.

After collapse, the stopper assembly 408 is drawn upwardly into the stopper bell 326 and the clamping collar 376 tightened onto the tube 334 so that the stopper assembly will be held in its position within the bell. Thereupon, the gate valve 56 is closed and the stopper bell 326, together with the stopper assembly 408, is removed in preparation for the attachment of a closure to the fitting 40.

The closure for the fitting Referring now to FIGURES 20 to 23, there is shown a closure for the stopper fitting 40. The closure comprises a plug 502 which snugly fits within the access opening 48 in the fitting 40 and has a small peripheral flange 504 engageable with the gasket 55 on the rim 58 of the fitting opening to limit the extent of insertion of the plug within such opening. Preferably, the inner edges of the plug 502 are bevelled, as at 506, to facilitate insertion of the plug into the fitting opening 48. A seal for the plug is effected by an O-ring 5% disposed in a peripheral groove 51% in the plug for engagement with a smooth-surfaced peripheral zone in the side edges 5%? of the access opening 48. Inwardly of the O-ring groove 51% in the plug 562, the periphery of the latter is provided with a series of peripherally spaced and elongated locking grooves or'recesses 512, here shown as being of less than 180 arcuate or semicircular configuration in cross section.

The side edges 50 of the access opening 48 are provided with corresponding recesses that are aligned with the plug recesses 512 when the plug 5492 is inserted fully into the opening 48. Disposed in each of the edge recesses 514 is a locking element 516, best shown in FIGURES 21 and 23, of generally T-shaped configuration having a head 518 that is completely receivable within its recess 514 and a stem 52% that projects into a bore 522 extending outwardly through the wall of the fitting 40 from the bottom of the recess 514. The head 518 of each locking element 516 is substantially circular in cross section, for mating engagement within the corresponding peripheral recess 512 in the plug 502. The stem 52% of each element 516 is provided with a smooth-surfaced cylindrical portion, immediately outwardly of the head 518, and such portion is provided with an O-ring groove 524 and an O-ring 526 therein for sealing engagement with the bore 522. Outwardly of the O-ring groove 524 the element 516 has a reduced threaded portion 528 engaged within a threaded socket in the inner end of a screw 53! threaded into a tapped counterbore at the outer end of the bore 522. The engaged threads on the stern portion 528 and the screw socket are of one direction, while the engaged threads on the screw 53 and the counterbore are in the other direction, i.e., one set of threads is right hand and the other left hand. Hence, rotation of the screw 530 in one direction will rapidly project the head of the locking element 516 out of its recess 5114 and into locking engagement with the corresponding recess 512 in the plug 582, while rotation of the screw in the opposite direction will rapidly retract the locking element from such locking engagement.

The top of the plug 502 is provided with a central threaded socket 532 for engagement by the threaded end 388 of the valve-operating rod 386. Surrounding the socket 532 is a boss 534 having an upstanding lug or key 536 thereon receivable in the key notch 378 in the rim of the tube 334.

In order to secure the plug closure 5192 to the stopper fitting 4%, after the line 46 has been unstopped as described above, the coupling nuts 382 and 494 are detached from the stopper assembly frame 410 and the valve-operating rod 386, respectively, and the valveoperating rod 386, by operation of the hand wheel 4%, is drawn rearwardly within the tube 334 until the forward end of the rod is substantially flush with that of the tube. The plug 5 552 is then placed against the end of the tube 334, with the key 536 in the notch 37%, and the end 383 of the rod 386 screwed, by the hand wheel 406, into the socket 532 in the plug. For this purpose the threads on the rod end 388 preferably are of the same or greater pitch than the threads 392. Thus, the plug SM. is firmly secured on the end of the tube 334, and correctly oriented for insertion into the fitting opening 43 by the key 536 and notch 378. The stopper bell 326 is then re-attached to the gate valve 56, the clamping collar 376 loosened, and the plug 592 pushed forwardly by the guide bar 344, from within the bell, through the gate valve, and into the access opening 43 in the fitting at until the peripheral flange 5% on the plug seats on the gasket 55 on the rim 58 of the fitting opening. When the plug 502 is so inserted, the O-ring 508 effects a tight seal with the fittting 40.

As the O-ring 5% initially seals with the peripheral sealing zone on the edges 59 of the fitting opening 43, it may become quite difficult to manually insert the plug 5(92 to its ful extent because of line pressure within the fitting 4-6 In this event, the yoke 364 may be engaged with the thrust washer 366 and the feed nut 362 rotated to force the tube 334, and the plug 502, into the fitting opening 48 until the flange 504 on the plug seats on the gasket 55,

After the locking recesses 512 in the plug 504 are aligned, or substantially aligned, with the locking elements 516, the screws 53%) are rotated, by an appropriate tool (not shown) to project the heads 513 of the locking elements into locking engagement with the plug recesses 512. In this connection, even if exact alignment between the locking element heads 518 and the locking recesses 512 is not initially obtained, it will be seen that the curved configuration of the heads and the recesses will tend to cam the plug 562 into a position wherein the proper alignment is obtained.

After the plug 502 is locked in place by the locking elements 516, the rod ass is unscrewed, by operation of the hand wheel 4%, from the plug socket 532, and the tube 334 withdrawn into the stopper bell 32d, and held in such position by the clamping collar S76. Thereupon, the stopper bell 326, and also the gate valve 56, are unbolted from the fitting 4d and completely removed therefrom. Thereafter, a cap 538 having a peripheral bolting flange 540 (FIGURE 29) may be secured in place, as by the bolts 54, to the top of the fitting Ml. Preferably, the cap 538 seats against the gasket 55 in order to provide an additional seal, and also to prevent dirt from entering between the plug 502 and the edges 50 of the access opening and lodging in the O-ring groove 5ft) outwardly of the O-ring 503 therein.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the opening 43 of the fitting 40 is rectangular in configuration primarily to restrain rotation of the cutting tools 74 or 172 and also to serve as a guide for correctly oriented insertion of the line stopper assembly 403. Obviously, any convenient non-circular configuration of the opening 43, the frames of the tools '74 or 1'72, and of the assembly 408 would serve the same purpose. Moreover, it is not essential that the opening 48 be non-circular throughout its entire length or depth. It would be sufiicient for the opening 48 to be non-circular for only a section of its depth or length.

Thus, for example, although not shown in the drawings, the opening 48 could be made of guiding non-circular configuration throughout only an inner section, and then flare outwardly to a circular configuration outwardly of such non-circular section. Such circular section, preferably would be of an axial extent which encompasses the zone which includes the locking elements 516 and the surface engaged by the O-ring 568. Such a construction would have manufacturing advantages because the guiding portion can be made to an acceptable tolerance by forging; whereas the surfaces engaged by an O-ring for sealing purposes must be machined, and the machining of a circular surface is accomplished with machines that are less expensive than those necessary to machine a noncircular surface.

It further will be seen that the feature of the invention which includes the locking elements 516, is susceptible of other applications; for example, the securing of a closure plug in the access opening of a service T, the securing of a valve bonnet to a valve casing, etc.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiments have been shown and described only-for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and are subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for use with a pipe stopper or valve inserting fitting for cutting out a section of a pipe line within the fitting to form opposed flat line ends therewithin, and wherein the fitting has a generally rectangular access opening, the combination comprising: an elongated frame, generally rectangular in cross section, adapted to be advanced linearly through, and restrained against rotation by engagement with the edges of, the fitting opening, said frame being of generally U-shaped configuration having a transverse rearward base and a pair of forwardly extending arms; a central tubular housing secured to said base and extending forwardly between said arms; a shell cutter journaled on the forward end of said housing for rotation about the axis thereof, the diameter of said cutter being at least as large as that of said housing; a pair of circular saws journalled on opposite sides of said housing for rotation about an axis normal to that of said housing for cutting the line along spaced. planes of severance normal to the line axis; a driving shaft, connectable to a boring bar, journalled on said base concentric with said housing; and gear-means connecting said shaft with said saws and cutter.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the radius of the saws is less than the diameter of the pipe to be cut, and including shaft means mounting said saws, and supplemental saw means on the inner sides of said saw to effect cuts in the pipe outside of the periphery of the cut effected by the shell cutter in order to permit passage of said shaft means through the line on advance of the frame.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 including detent means on the inner sides of the arms for engagement with the section of the line cut out by the saws to withdraw the section from the fitting with the frame.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 488,396 12/1953 Italy.

WILLIAM W. DYER, 1a., Primary Examiner. 

1. A TOOL FOR USE WITH A PIPE STOPPER OR VALVE INSERTING FITTING FOR CUTTING OUT A SECTION OF A PIPE LINE WITH THE FITTING TO FORM OPPOSED FLAT LINE ENDS THEREWITHIN, AND WHEREIN THE FITTING HAS A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR ACCESS OPENING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED FRAME, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR IN CROSS SECTION, ADAPTED TO BE ADVANCED LINEARLY THROUGH, AND RESTRAINED AGAINST ROTATION BY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EDGE OF, THE FITTING OPENING, SAID FRAME BEING OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION HAVING A TRANSVERSE REARWARD BASE AND A PAIR OF FORWARDLY EXTENDING ARMS; A CENTRAL TUBULAR HOUSING SECURED TO SAID BASE AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY BETWEEN SAID ARMS; A SHELL CUTTER JOURNALED ON THE FOWARD END OF SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS THEREOF, THE DIAMETER OF SAID CUTTER BEING AT LEAST AS LARGE AS THAT OF SAID HOUSING; A PAIR OF CIRCULAR SAWS JOURNALED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS NORMAL TO THAT OF SAID HOUSING FOR CUTTING THE LINE ALONG SPACED PLANES OF SEVERANCE NORMAL TO THE LINE AXIS; A DRIVING SHAFT, CONNECTABLE TO A BORING BAR, JOURNALLED ON SAID BASE CONCENTRIC WITH SAID HOIUSING; AND GEAR MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHAFT WITH SAID SAWS AND CUTTER. 